For Barons’ Ham, It’s All in the Kick

The first time Michelle Ham swam the breaststroke, it was hardly a momentous event.

“I was 5 years old and my older brother was competing for a swim club,” said Ham, a senior at Fountain Valley High School. “I used to imitate him in our pool. I would jump in and pretend to do the breaststroke. But I didn’t know how to kick my legs properly. So my mom suggested I join the club team and learn.”

Ham has since learned to kick properly. In fact, she’s become pretty good at the breaststroke.

Ham, The Times’ athlete of the week, won the 100-yard breaststroke at the Southern Section 4-A finals Friday night. She also won the 200 individual medley.

Both of her times were personal bests. Ham had a time of 1 minute 4.26 seconds in the breaststroke, finishing nearly three seconds ahead of the second-place swimmer. She had a time of 2:04.24 in the individual medley, again finishing nearly three seconds ahead of the competition.

“My goal all season was to win those races,” Ham said. “After the prelims, I knew I would do it.”

Ham has been swimming competitively since she was 5. However, she bounced around from club team to club team for seven years.

She first swam for the Fountain Valley Aquatics, then the Westminster Sea Lions, then the Huntington Beach Aquatic Club before joining the Golden West Swim Club five years ago.

“It just never worked out at those other clubs,” Ham said. “Either they folded or I just didn’t feel comfortable with them.”

The year after Ham joined the Golden West team, John Woodling became its coach. Since then, her career has soared.

Ham credits Woodling with improving her technique. She said that before he arrived, her form was wrong.

In February, Ham swam in the U.S. Swimming short-course senior nationals for the first time. She finished 10th in the 1,650-meter freestyle and 10th in the 100 free.

“Coach Woodling has really helped my development,” Ham said. “Especially in the breaststroke. He changed my stroke.”

Not to mention her kick.

TOP PERFORMERS

Christy Carolin of Capistrano Valley won the 50- and 100-yard freestyles at the 4-A meet Friday. In winning the 50 free, she became only the fourth girl swimmer in Southern Section history to win an event four consecutive years.

Beth Howard of Cypress pitched a no-hitter in a nine-inning, 1-0 victory Tuesday over Loara and a one-hitter in a 5-0 victory over Katella Friday.

Natasha Kohne of Rancho Alamitos won the 200 individual medley and 100 backstroke at the 2-A swim finals Saturday.

Paige Lauby of El Toro pitched two no-hitters against San Clemente last week. Lauby struck out 12 in a 1-0 victory over the Tritons Tuesday. She struck out 15 in a 1-0, eight-inning victory Thursday.

Sionainn Marcoux of Foothill won the 200 and 500 freestyles at the 4-A meet Friday.

Michelle Ham

Fountain Valley High School

* Position: 200-yard individual medley and 100 breaststroke

* Height, Weight, Class: 5-9, 115, Junior.

* Last Week: Ham won the 2O0 IM and the 100 breaststroke at the Southern Section 4-A meet Friday. She had a time of 2 minutes 4.24 seconds in the 200 IM and 1:04.26 seconds in the 100 breaststroke.

* Season: Ham did not lose in the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke in a high school meet this season.